A Nebraska Congressman says he wants the Department of Homeland Security to be funded, but believes the House must stand firm against the president’s immigration executive order.

A dispute between President Barack Obama and Congress on his immigration executive order could force a partial shutdown of Homeland Security.

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry says the House should stand behind its bill to fund Homeland Security without the money needed to implement the executive order.

“The House of Representatives has done the right thing here. We’ve stood on principle. We have funded the Department of Homeland Security, but have not funded the president’s executive overreach on immigration,” Fortenberry tells Kevin Thomas host of Drive Time Lincoln on Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KLIN. “That is the right thing to do.”

President Obama issued an executive order making four million illegal immigrants eligible for protected status, which would shield them from deportation. It also grants legal working status for another one million.

The House approved a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security, but it leaves out the funding necessary to implement the executive order.

Fortenberry defends the House action.

“It is proper and good and necessary to keep the department running. I do not want to see this shut down, but the president has to be challenged on this aggressive use of his authority.”

Without agreement, funding runs out Friday at midnight. That would force a partial shutdown since approximately 85% of the employees of the Department of Homeland Security or 200,000 of the 230,000 employed there are deemed essential and would continue to work.